Second Jamaa'ah in Masjid

By Mufti Muhammad Kadwa
Posted: 19 Ramadan 1423, 24 November 2002


Q.) Please explain the different opinions regarding the permissibility of praying a second jamaa'ah in a Masjid that has set jamaa'ah times and an official imam(s)--after the main jamaa'ah is over. I have heard that one may do so in a secluded area or corner or separate room of the masjid. Please clarify this issue, and please also clarify what is considered to be the masjid--i.e. the whole complex or just the musallaa area. [Abdullah ibn Abdullah]

A.) In a Masjid situated in a locality with a fixed Imam and set Jamaa'ah times, it is Makrooh to make a second Jamaa'ah after the main Jamaa'ah is over. However, if a few people are delayed, they may make a second Jamaa'ah out of the Musalla area. For instance in the courtyard.

In this context, Masjid refers to the area where the actual Jamaa'ah Salat takes place, i.e. the Musalla and not the whole complex. The aforementioned Mas-alah is derived from the following Hadith: Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam once returned from the outskirts of Madinah and found that the people have already performed their Salat. He went home, gathered his family members and led them in Salat.' (narrated by Tabrani; Imdaad vol.1 pg.362).

If it wasn't disliked, Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam wouldn't have left the Masjid. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best